Israel's Attack on Syria-Lebanon Border Said to Target Military Research Hub

After morning reports of an overnight incident as Syria's war may spill over the border, Syrian state TV is now reporting that the Israeli warplanes bombed a military research center. Confirmations from U.S. officials are also spilling in.

Update, 2:47 p.m.: Syrian state TV is reporting that the Israeli warplanes bombed a military research center. "State TV says the strike targeted a military research center in the area of Jermana. It says the strike caused material damage and the center was used to advance Syrian military capabilities," reports the AP. U.S. officials have confirmed a strike took place, but so far have not said when — or what, exactly, was bombed.

Update, 12:43 p.m.: The Israeli attack and the target of the attack have been confirmed by a U.S. defense official, and yes, it appears Israel was aiming for a weapons convoy. " Israel conducted an airstrike inside Syria overnight near the border with Lebanon, hitting a convoy of trucks," reports the AP, gleaning information from U.S. defense officials. The AP adds:

The regional officials said Israel had been planning in the days leading up to the airstrike to hit a shipment of weapons bound for the Islamist militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. They said the shipment included sophisticated, Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles, which would be strategically "game-changing" in the hands of Hezbollah.

The attack comes one day after Israeli defense sources told Reuters's Dan Williams they were concerned that Syrian weapons, both chemical and conventional, might fall into hands of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Williams wrote:

Israeli officials have also voiced concern about Syria's advanced Russian-supplied weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Israel fears that should such weapons fall into the hands of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon, this could dent the Jewish state's superiority in any future confrontation.